Network interface device

Abstract

The present disclosure provides network interface device including a circuit that, in a powered state, receives a downstream radio-frequency (RF) signal from a source via an entry port, provides a portion of the downstream RF signal to a first input/output port via a passive signal path, and provides a second portion of the downstream RF signal to a second input/output port via an active signal path. Additionally, in an unpowered state, the circuit receives the downstream RF signal from the source via the entry port, provides the downstream RF signal to first input/output port via a second passive signal path, and isolates the active signal path and a first passive signal path from the second passive signal path.

What we claim is: 
     
         1 . A network interface device, comprising:
 an entry port;   a power port;   a passive input/output port;   an active input/output port;   a first switching device;   a second switching device;   a splitter device; and   an amplifier circuit;   wherein:
 a common terminal of the first switching device connects to the entry port; 
 a common terminal of the second switching device connects to the passive input/output port; 
 a first terminal of the splitter device connects to the entry port; 
 a second terminal of the splitter device connects to the passive input/output port via the second switching device; 
 a third terminal of the splitter device connects to the active input/output port via the amplifier circuit; 
 a first terminal of the first switching device and a first terminal of the second switching device are configured to, in the event the first switching device and the second switching device are powered by the power port:
 provide a first bidirectional RF signal path between the entry port and the passive input/output port, and 
 provide a bidirectional RF signal path between the entry port and the active input/output port; and 
 
 a second terminal of the first switching device and a second terminal of the second switching device are configured to, in the event power to the first switching device and the second switching device is interrupted, provide a second bidirectional RF signal path between the entry port and the passive input/output port. 
   
     
     
         2 . The network interface device of  claim 1 , wherein the first switching device and the second switching device are non-latching relays. 
     
     
         3 . The network interface device of  claim 1 , wherein the amplifier circuit comprises:
 a first diplexer;   a second diplexer; and   a downstream amplifier configured to amplify a downstream RF signal.   
     
     
         4 . The network interface device of  claim 3 , wherein the amplifier circuit further comprises an upstream amplifier configured to amplify an upstream RF signal. 
     
     
         5 . The network device of  claim 1 , wherein the first switching device, the splitter device, and the amplifier circuit at least partially define the bidirectional RF signal path between the entry port and the active input/output port. 
     
     
         6 . The network interface device of  claim 1 , wherein the first switching device, the splitter device, and the second switching device at least partially define the first bidirectional RF signal path between the entry port and the passive input/output port. 
     
     
         7 . The network interface device of  claim 6 , wherein the first bidirectional RF signal path between the entry port and the passive input/output port lacks any active devices. 
     
     
         8 . The network interface device of  claim 1 , wherein the first switching device and the splitter device at least partially define the second bidirectional RF signal path between the entry port and the passive input/output port. 
     
     
         9 . The network interface device of  claim 8 , wherein the second bidirectional RF signal path between the entry port and the passive input/output port bypasses the splitter device and the amplifier circuit. 
     
     
         10 . The network interface device of  claim 8 , wherein the second bidirectional RF signal path between the entry port and the passive input/output port lacks any active devices. 
     
     
         11 . A network interface device, comprising:
 an active radio-frequency (RF) signal path connecting an entry port and an active port;   a first passive RF signal path connecting the entry port and a passive port;   a second passive RF signal path connecting the entry port and the passive port;   wherein:
 the active RF signal path includes a first switching device and a splitter/combiner device; 
 the first passive RF signal path includes the first switching device and the splitter/combiner device; and 
 the second passive RF signal path includes the first switching device and a second switching device; 
 wherein the first switching device and the second switching device are configured to bypass the splitter/combiner device. 
   
     
     
         12 . The network interface device of  claim 11 , wherein the first passive RF signal path and the second passive RF signal path include only non-active devices. 
     
     
         13 . The network interface device of  claim 11 , wherein a first terminal of the splitter/combiner device is configured to receive a downstream RF signal. 
     
     
         14 . The network interface device of  claim 13 , wherein a second terminal of the splitter/combiner is configured to output a first portion of the downstream RF signal to the second relay. 
     
     
         15 . The network interface device of  claim 14 , wherein a third terminal of the splitter/combiner device is configured to output a second portion of the downstream RF signal to an amplifier circuit. 
     
     
         16 . The network interface device of  claim 11 , wherein a common terminal of the first relay is configured to receive a downstream RF signal as an input. 
     
     
         17 . The network interface device of  claim 16 , wherein a normally-open terminal of the first relay is configured to provide the downstream RF signal to a common terminal of the splitter/combiner device. 
     
     
         18 . The network interface device of  claim 16 , wherein a normally-closed terminal of the first relay is configured to provide the downstream RF signal to a normally-closed terminal of the second relay. 
     
     
         19 . The network interface device of  claim 16 , wherein a common terminal of the second relay is configured to output the downstream RF signal to the passive port. 
     
     
         20 . A network interface device comprising a circuit, wherein:
 in a powered state, the circuit is configured to:
 receive a downstream radio-frequency (RF) signal from a source via an entry port; 
 provide a first portion of the downstream RF signal to first input/output port via a first passive signal path; and 
 provide a second portion of the downstream RF signal to a second input/output port via an active signal path; and 
   in an unpowered state, the circuit is configured to:
 receive the downstream RF signal from the source via the entry port; 
 provide the downstream RF signal to first input/output port via a second passive signal path; and 
 isolate the active signal path and a first passive signal path from the second passive signal path.